Device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles and machine for generating optically variable image elements

Abstract

Examples include a device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles contained in a coating agent applied to one side of a web-format or sheet-format substrate. An alignment device comprises one or more magnetic elements that, during normal operation, are fixed to a frame at the transport path and, in a working position, enter into magnetic interaction with magnetic or magnetizable particles on the substrate guided past the device along the transport path. The one or more magnetic elements are arranged at a carrier that extends transversely to the transport direction over a working width provided for processing the substrate. The carrier is mounted, on both sides, in or at a respective guide and can be moved in or at the guide, together with the one or more magnetic elements, along a movement path from the working position into a makeready position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for aligning magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) contained in a coating agent ( 06 ) applied to one side of a web-format or sheet-format substrate ( 02 ), the device comprising:
 an alignment device ( 41 ;  42 ), which comprises one or more magnetic elements ( 43 ;  44 ) that, during normal operation, are fixed to a frame at a transport path so as to, in a working position (A), enter or be able to enter into magnetic interaction with magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) on the substrate ( 02 ) to be guided past the device along the transport path, the one or more magnetic elements ( 43 ;  44 ) being arranged at a carrier ( 46 ) that extends transversely to a transport direction (T) over a working width provided for processing the substrate ( 02 ), 
 characterized in that the carrier ( 46 ) is mounted, on both sides, in or at at least a respective guide ( 47 ;  48 ), which are provided directly in frame walls ( 38 ;  39 ) of the frame carrying the alignment device ( 41 ;  42 ) or at or in side panels ( 54 ;  56 ) arranged at the frame walls ( 38 ;  39 ), and that the carrier ( 46 ) is mounted so as to be movable, together with the magnetic elements ( 43 ;  44 ), overall, by way of a translatory movement in or at the guides ( 47 ;  48 ), in a guided manner, along a movement path from the working position (A) into a makeready position (R) that is spaced apart from the working position (A), and that the guide ( 47 ;  48 ) is configured in a manner of a guide groove ( 47 ;  48 ), in which a corresponding carrier-side support element ( 49 ;  51 ) engages. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that two guides ( 47 ;  48 ) are provided at each end face of the carrier ( 46 ) to be guided, which cooperate with two carrier-side support elements ( 49 ;  51 ) that are in each case spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an exit ( 52 ;  53 ) from the guide groove ( 47 ;  48 ) is provided at a point of the guide groove ( 47 ;  48 ) which is spaced apart from the position assumed in the working position (A) toward the makeready position (R), through which the particular support element ( 49 ;  51 ) can exit or be guided out of the relevant guide groove ( 47 ;  48 ) in the removal position. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that side parts ( 54 ;  56 ) are detachably arranged at the frame walls ( 38 ;  39 ) of the frame carrying the alignment device ( 41 ;  42 ). 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the carrier ( 46 ) can be moved by a gear wheel-based linear drive ( 58 ;  59 ) by way of a gear wheel ( 58 ) engaging in a gear pattern. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the gear wheel ( 58 ) can be driven by way of a gear mechanism ( 62 ). 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, in the working position (A), the alignment device ( 41 ;  42 ) is arranged at a point of the transport path which is located opposite a cylinder circumferential section, located in the transport path, of a cylinder ( 12 ;  26 ) transporting the substrate ( 02 ) at the transport path. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the cylinder ( 26 ) is formed by a magnetic cylinder ( 26 ), which in a region of an outer circumference thereof comprises a plurality of magnetic elements ( 24 ) arranged in a matrix-like manner so as to align, in each case in an image-producing surface area, at least some of the particles (P) in a defined manner. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the cylinder ( 12 ) is formed by a transport cylinder ( 12 ) transporting sheet-format substrate ( 02 ) downstream. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the guides ( 47 ;  48 ), along the movement path, in terms of a shape thereof, are configured so as to initially lead the carrier ( 46 ), from the working position (A), away from the cylinder ( 12 ;  26 ) with a first radial directional component which is greater compared to a first tangential directional component, and then move the carrier ( 46 ) away from the cylinder ( 12 ;  26 ) with a second tangential directional component which is greater compared to a second radial directional component. 
     
     
       11. A machine ( 01 ) for generating optically variable image elements ( 03 ) on a substrate ( 02 ), the machine ( 01 ) comprising a substrate infeed ( 13 ), from which the substrate ( 02 ) to be processed can be fed to the machine ( 01 ), at least one application device ( 04 ), by which a coating agent ( 06 ) containing magnetic or magnetizable particles (P) can be applied onto at least a first side of the substrate ( 02 ) that is guided through the machine ( 01 ) on a transport path, a product receiving system ( 22 ) used to receive the substrate ( 02 ) to be processed in the machine ( 01 ), and a magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) provided in the transport path of the substrate ( 02 ) between the at least one application device ( 04 ) and the product receiving system ( 22 ), the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) including a plurality of magnetic elements ( 24 ) around a circumference, the alignment device ( 41 ;  42 ), as recited in  claim 1 , being arranged upstream from the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) and/or the alignment device ( 41 ;  42 ) being assigned to the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) at the transport path and being provided in the transport path of the substrate ( 02 ). 
     
     
       12. The machine according to  claim 11 , characterized in that, downstream from a first application device ( 04 ), at least a first one of the alignment device ( 41 ) is arranged upstream from the at least one magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) in the transport path, serving as a pre-alignment device ( 41 ), and/or at least one other alignment device ( 42 ) is assigned opposite the at least one magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) in the transport path, serving as a simultaneous alignment device ( 42 ). 
     
     
       13. The machine according to  claim 12 , characterized in that a plurality of the application devices ( 04 ) are provided, and that at least one magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) and at least the first alignment device ( 41 ) serving as the pre-alignment device ( 41 ), which is arranged upstream from the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) in the transport path, and/or the at least one other alignment device ( 42 ) serves as the simultaneous alignment device ( 26 ), which is assigned to the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ), are provided downstream from a plurality of or each of the application devices ( 04 ). 
     
     
       14. The machine according to  claim 11 , characterized in that only one or more cylinders ( 12 ;  26 ) are provided for the transport of the substrate ( 02 ) between the application device ( 04 ) and the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ), via which a transfer of the substrate ( 02 ) from cylinder ( 12 ;  26 ) to cylinder ( 12 ;  26 ) can be effectuated and/or that the alignment device ( 41 ) arranged upstream from the magnetic cylinder ( 26 ) is provided around a circumference of a cylinder ( 12 ), configured as a transport cylinder ( 12 ), and located opposite a transport path of an outer cylindrical surface of the transport cylinder ( 12 ).